April: Food giant 2 Sisters slams strike action threat

2 Sisters has slammed suggestions it was to face strike action at two of its Yorkshire operations, after a union accused the food giant of trying to offset the extra cost of the National Living Wage by cutting a number of other working benefits.

According to the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU), 2 Sisters had told staff at its Pennine Foods site in Sheffield, and the Fox’s Biscuit factory in Batley, that it planned to cut Sunday and Bank Holiday pay, overtime and time off in lieu for working unsociable hours.

BFAWU regional secretary John Higgins told FoodManuacture.co.uk the “feeling on the shop floor”​ was that strike action was likely to take place.

A ballot, which asked workers whether they were prepared to support strike action, was met with a 95% positive response.